Hosiery



May 18,1943 M. A. BARD m; 2,319,517

Filed Oct 27, 1942 Patented May 18 1943 HOSIERY Morry A. Bard and Eileen. Tarshis,

- New York, N. Y.

Application October 27. 1942, Serial No. 463,558

9 Claims.

This invention relates to hosiery and methods of making the same.

One object of the invention is to provide hosiery having improved features of construction such that it shall have the form fitting qualities,

cated hitting machinery is necessary for this purpose, including various carriers for different yarns that are to be fed to selected needles at dlfierent times, with numerous cams, jacquard chains and other controls. Accordingly the stocking itself becomes highly expensive, and nevertheless the fabric mitted is not of the nonrunning type except in stockings that are very costly. Apparently the use of nonrunning stitching involves still further complication and loss of production in machines that knit fullfashioned hose.

It has been proposed to make stockings out of fabric knitted by the yard and cut to pattern for form fitting and seaming, to thus provide a le section terminating at a point part way down the foot. The foot portion was made by sewing a textile'member to the leg section. But runs developed readily along the line of stitching, and where the knitted fabric was of the nonrunnln type, holes occurred at the line of stitching after a compartively short period of wear, and the cloth member would gradually tear away from the leg section. y it is therefore another object of the invention to provide improved hosiery having the indipensive to manufacture as the cheapest hosiery.

A further object is the provision of an improved process for making hosiery on a. rapid,

' quantity production basis and with the use of relatively simple or easily available machines.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

With the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and ar-' rangements of parts hereinafter described in their'preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illustrated on the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a pair of stockings embodying the invention as worn on legs indicated in dot-dash lines.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective View of the foot and ankle portions of a stocking as worn.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal, fragmentary, sectional, inside view of a fiat lying stocking taken along a plane immediately in, front of the seam line,

.to show the relation of the seam to the other parts.

Fig. 4 is an inside fragmentary view of the toe portion of a stockin partially flattened to disclose suficient details.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the top reinforcement or cufi portion of the stocking.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a modification.

Fig. 'l is a fragmentary view of a blank structure for the device of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of modification.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be still another produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated in several different con-.

The same may be made of any suitable materials,

including silk, cotton, rayon or other composition yarns, or of threads consisting of mixtures of these materials. While the invention is examplified in ladies stockings, the principles thereof may also be embodied in men's hosiery.

Each stocking III has a main body portion knitted in any suitable manner of a nonrunning fabric. The same may comprise the leg portion II, the foot portion I2 and the top welt or cufl' portion I3, formed as an integral, one piece structure, with the provision of a single, longitudinal seam I4 extending continuously along the reenforcement portion I3 at I5, along the leg portion at I6 and along the foot portion II.

Desirably, a short, generally central, horizontal seam I8 is provided at the toe portion I9, that may intersect the seam II. This main body portion is preferably of uniform, knitted texture throughout, so that the weight and strength of and at the top where the garter is connected to support the stocking. Hence reenforcements are employed which exemplify features of the invention as will now be described.

For the foot portion there is provided a member of stretchable material and which may be of the same knitting and texture as the main body or blank of the stocking. In fact this member may be cut to pattern from the knitted goods which is used for the main blank of the stocking. By reason of its stretchability, it may be. adapted to readily conform to the foot. But the best results are obtained utilizing two identical members 20, which when sewn into the seam at I6 and II are adapted to form a concaved element adapted to lie along the bottom and back of the foot at 2|, 2Ia and part way up the sides of the foot as at 22, and also partially along the side of the ankle as at 23. Because two blanks are used,

' they automatically shape themselves to the desired form without requiring any special stretching or working operations. These blanks may have their other edges secured in any suitable manner as by loose stitching, preferably of the zig-zag or over seaming type shown at 24, which not'only covers the raw edges of the elements 20 but affords a very high degree of stretchability to avoid a tear in the main body of the stocking. Also the area of securement of the stitching 24 is over a sufficiently broad band or zone for even distribution of stresses.

It is preferred that the elements 20 shall stop short of the toe portion of the stocking, which is reenforced by a separate piece made of any suitable material, such as a textile, and consisting of cotton or the like, for maximum resistance to wear and other deterioration. For this purpose, a member 25 is provided which can be constructed in the manner indicated for the section 20, but is desirably a one piece member to reduce the amount of seaming required. For shaping to concave form, this member 24 may be made with a T-shaped cut, certain of the material being removed, and the resultant seam including a portion forming a continuation and part of the seam I1, and another portion forming a part of the seam I8. Thus the desired convex shape of the toe reenforcement is obtained by merely connecting the edges of the T-cut into the adjacent portions of the seams I1 and I8 of the main body of the stocking. Ofcourse the other edges of the toe reenforcement are secured in any suitable manner, as by stitching 26 such as that at 24. This stitching 26 extends continuously along the periphery of the toe member 25. It

connects the edges 21 to the main body of the stocking and the edges 28 to the members 20 in the manner of a butt joint, and without direct connection to the main body 01 the stocking.

The cuff or welt portion I3 of the stocking may be made by infolding an end portion 29 of the main body of the stocking and securing the same thereto by stretchable stitching at 30, such as that shown at 24, and then seaming the two plies of material into the main seam I6 as at I5,

and in the manner previously described for the other reenforcements.

The manner of making the stocking according to the invention will now be described. Working with ordinary hat or yard goods, such as knitted, textile or both, the operator cuts to pattern the blanks corresponding to the main body of the stocking, and to the members 20 and 25. With knitted goods, the main body of the stocking and the blanks 20 may be cut from the same fabric. The patterns for this purpose are relatively simple and need no further description. Whereas two pieces 20 are provided, only one piece 25 is used but the latter is cut out, so that when its internal edges are brought together, a T-shaped slit results as indicated in Fig. 4, and the piece 25 then has the proper convexity.

In performing the sewing operations, a particular sequence is preferably followed which is peculiarly adapted to the construction of the stocking. First the blanks 2D and 25 are secured together by the zig-zag stitching to form the butt or slightly lapped'joints at 28. Thus the parts 20 and the part 25 become in effect a single sec tion. Then the latter is secured to the main body of the stocking by a, single, continuous sewing operation at 24 and 26. For example, the operator may begin the zig-zag stitching at the top of the ankle part 23 and sew down along one part 20, then along and across the top of the toe part 25, then reversely along the companion part 20, back to the top of the ankle portion 23. Nowthe operator may turn in the portion 29 and sew it down at 30 for the reenforcing welt or cuff I3. A single operation may next complete the stocking. This requires forming the cross seam, and the continuous longitudinal seam at I1, I6 and I5 to finish the stocking. In making the cross seam I8, the toe portion and the main body of the stocking are sewn together, and the toe portion is also secured in the adjacent portion of the seam II. As the sewing progresses, the edges of the parts 20 are secured from end to end in the seam at I! and at I6, and similarly the edges of the part 29 are secured in the seam I5. The completed stocking may now be turned inside out in position to be worn.

The stocking thus provided affords ample reenforcement at the foot and toes and at the top where the garters are attached. The zig-zag stitching cooperates with the nonrunning structure of the knitted fabric to prevent runs, and the stretchability of that stitching also minimizes the formation of holes due to any excessive pull on the fabric at such stitching. The stocking is neat and cheap to produce, and possesses durability and form fitting character so that it may be used as a substitute for expensive, shortlived full fashioned hose.

In Fig. 6 is shown a modified stocking 3I having a one-piece foot reenforcement shown in blank form at 32 in Fig. 7. This blank has a central cutout, 33 affording side portions 34, a toe portion 35, and heel portions 36, which taper oil. at 31'. The generally y-shaped structure the main 7 tinues past the undercut at 29, and is shaped as at 49 to the outer contour. of the blank 32, and stitched to the inner edge of the blank at l br the seam 42, which is like that at N, a plurality of V-shaped cut-outs 42 may be providedat the extreme toe end of the blank 32. The edges of each notch 43 are stitched together, and the seams thus formed naturally fall into a continuous straight line seam such as It. In other words, each half of the latter at .one side of the seam i1 is formed by a seam for a notch 43. Then the outside edges 44 of the foot blank 32 substantially coinciding with the outside edges 49 of the stocking blank 98 are sewn in a seam 45, like that at H, this scam continuing-along the edges 46 of the stocking blank to form the seam 41, exactly as in the stockings II. The seam 45 accordingly includes two edges of the blank 92 and two edges of the blank 39. A top welt such as l3 may be formed; with the seam 4 5, 41 completed, the stocking is turned outside in so that these seams appear on the inside as shown in Fig. 6.

It will be understood thatthe-above description of the stocking 3| applies also to the stocking H, and it will be noted that the foot blank 32 is generally similar to the combined blank structure including the toe blank 25 and the foot blanks22 when sewn together at 28. Also it will be appreciated that the stitching in the thus provided is stitched to'a blank "forming body of the stocking. This blank constocking 3| maybe the same as in the stocking The stocking 3| has especial advantage with large mesh stocking fabrics, also known as braided fabrics, and the element 32 may be of any suitable fabric that is .substantially more rugged and durable. It is noted that by the continuity of the element 32 at the toe portion 35, a seam at the top is avoided. This saves any possible discomfort at the top of the toes where the skin is quite sensitive, and no seam is needed which would be conspicuous in an open toe shoe.

In Fig. 8is shown a stocking-4B which is different from that at H, in that the toe portion 49 lies on the outside of the fabric of the main body of the stocking, while the foot reenforcement 60, which is like that at 29 lies on the inside thereof. In other respects the structure is substantially identical with that of the stocking ii and it may be made in substantially the same manner. However, the parts t9, 5d are not directly sewn together but are first sewn to the main stocking part 5! at 52, 53 respectively, and may be sewn together by the stitching 52 in overlapping relation, or they may be separately sewn at their adjacent edges. However, the seams 54, 55 and 56 may be formed exactly in the manner of the seams at i8, ii and it.

A particular advantage of the stocking 4B is that substantially greater protection may be afforded to the delicatestocking fabric because the durable toe portion 49 shields that fabric against rubbing contact with a shoe. Then again, the toe portion 49 like that 25, may also be made of plastic materials, in molded or sheet form, but'being an outside member, which is strong and waterproof, it may form an effective closure for the opening of an open toe shoe, and since transparent plastic may be used, the same decorative effect may be realized.

It will be understood that the stockings herein described may be made of any suitable mai not be of the non-running terial, and that the stockings are stretchable wherever need be. sale the case with knitted fabrics, illustratively referred to herein. But many advantages of the invention can also be realized by making the stockings of textile fabrics. or of very cheap knitted fabrics which need typ We claim: l. A stocking having a body portion consisting of knitted, nonrunning 'fabricand having a continuous longitudinal seam from the top to the toe thereof, a foot reenforcemnt member and a toe reenforcement element, said member being split and being secured in said seam so that said member is curved to conform to the bottom and to the sides of the foot and ankle, said member consisting of a knitted fabric and the toe element consisting of a textile fabric, the toe element being connected into said seam, and stitching interconnecting said element and member to form a continuous unit and connecting the I remaining edges of the element and member to the said body portion.

2. A stocking having a body portion of nonrunning fabric having a seam from end to end thereof, a foot and toe lreenforcement means split from the toe to the ankle, the edges at the split being secured in the seam and the split portions being so shaped at the split that the reenforcement means is concaved at the toe and heel up to the ankle to coniorm to the. shape ofthe foot, and loose stretchable stitching" connecting the remaining edges of said means to the body portion.

3. A stocking having a body portion having a seam from the top end thereof to the ankle, toe reenforcement concaved to fit the toe and having edges brought together to produce the concavity, said edges being secured in the seam, and a plurality of members shaped so as to conjointly produce a part underlying the foot and extending up to the back of the ankle and concaved to partially embrace the sides of the foot and ankle, includin.g the heel of the foot, said members being connected to the toe reeniorcement and-having form fitting edges continuously secured in said seam, and loose stitching securing the remaining edges of the members and the toe reenforcement to said body portion.

4. The herein described method of making stockings, including providing a blank member adapted to be folded and stitched to form a continuous seam from the top to the toe of the stocking to thus complete the main body of the stocking, providing a. pair of blank elements and lining up certain edges thereof with edges of the,

blank member at that part of the latter which forms the foot in the completed stocking, and

in this position stitching the blank elements to the blank member at points remote from the said edges, then folding the blank member and stocking to thus complete the main body of the stocking, providing a toe reenforcement element by cutting out a portion thereof so that the resultant edges are brought together to form a concaved toe element, stitching said element to the blank member so that said edges of the toe element lie at the corresponding edge portions of the blank member, then sewing the so aligned edge portions of the toe element and the blank member in course of forming said continuous seam to complete the stocking.

6. The herein described method of making stockings including providing a blank member adapted to be folded and stitched to form a continuous seam from the top to the toe of the stocking, providing a blank element for reenforcement of the toe including cutting out a portionof the material of the element so that the resultant opposed edges can be brought together to concave the element to fit the toe portion, providing a plurality of foot blanks adapted conjointly to be shaped to fit the foot and back of the ankle as a concaved reenforcernent, sewing the foot blanks at their ends to the toe elements at respective sides of the cut out, then sewing the resultant unitary structure to the blank member at points remote from said seam line and so that said edges or the element shall coincide with edges at the seam-line and adjacent opposed edges of the foot blanks shall coincide with edges at the seam line, and finally seaming the blank member and simultaneously seaming in the said coinciding edges of the toe element and of the foot blanks to thu concave the toe element and to provide a concaved foot reenforcement while completing the stocking.

7. A stocking having a main body portion including foot and leg portions, a foot reenforcement member extending along the sole, heel and we regions of the stocking and extending par tially along the sides of the foot at these regions, said member having edges running centrally along the bottom of the foot and up the back of the heel which edges are brought together in a seam whereby the member is concaved to fit the foot, the said main body having a seam extending centrally along the bottom of the foot and back of the heel and straight upward along the leg portion, said seam of the member being continuously secured in the adjacent part of the seam of said main body and means for securing the other edges of the member to the main body of the stocking. 4

8. A stocking having a continuous seam along its back and center of its sole portion, and a reenforcement means including elements of narrow elongated form having their adjacent longitudinal edges secured in the seam in the sole portion, and stitching securing the other longitudinal edges to the foot portion of the stocking, said elements extending from the toe to the heel portions of the stocking. v.

9. A stocking according to claim 8, wherein said reenforcement means comprises a one-piece generally V-shaped member the sides of which form the elements and the cross piece of which 

